REPORTS. 17 



Mr. Marqiiand also reports that Mr. J. T. Marshall, the 

 eminent conchologist, has presented specimens of the shells of 

 four very rare gastropods of the genus Fasus, from the 

 Shetland Isles. They are F, beruiciensis, F. islandicus, F, 

 norvegicus and F. turtoiii. In all cases the animal Avas alive 

 when captured and the operculum has been preserved. 



Dr. H. Fleure sends the following notes : — 



'• In some aquarium experiments on anemones, it was 

 noticed that Tcalia crassicornis shows occasionally a marked 

 sensitiveness to sudden changes of illumination (lighting 

 gas, &c.), retracting its tentacles in one or two minutes. 

 This reaction, however, does not seem to be constant and 

 needs further investigation. 



Anemonia sulcata (the Opelet AnemoneJ does not seem 

 to show any such reaction and it is still doubtful if Actinia 

 mesemhryanthemiun (the common StraAvberry Anemone) does 

 so either. Anemonia sulcata seems, if anything, to expand 

 still more when illuminated. 



The tentacles of this last species, although sensitive to 

 touch, do not seem to be able to discriminate much, as a piece 

 of india-rubber Avas generally held and passed into the mouth 

 and only expelled later Avhen it proved to be indigestible. The 

 same seems true for other forms, but the experiments are only 

 preliminary. The tube-Avorm Scrpiila retracts suddenly when 

 AA'atched and this apparently occurs when the observer's 

 shadoAv happens to fall on the animal. Sudden retraction, 

 however, occurs at other times and does not always follow 

 when shadoAv falls on it. 



The bonnet-limpet {Acmcea Virginia.) moves about a 

 great deal in a tank although Docoglossa generally (limpets, 

 ormers, &c.) are such sluggish forms. Sea-slugs such as 

 Doris and especially Eolis^ AAdien hungry, eat the bases of 

 anemones like Actinia mesemhryanthemicm. 



Crabs do not seem to be exclusively carnivorous, for a 

 Carcinus moenas Avas seen moAving down a patch of the 

 common red sea-Aveed (Rhodymenia jyalmata) and eating 

 some of it. 



From observations of the shells round the lair of an 

 Octopus, it is probable that it preys on young ormers 

 {Haliotis tuherculata) and it is probable that crabs also take 

 advantage of them occasionally, probably when they happen 

 to have fallen from their support. Other univalves such as 

 Purpura^ Nassa, Littorina and Trochns are all eaten by 

 the octopus Avhere their true food (succulent bivalves) is 



